NEMO

Toledo is the most southern district of Belize. Within its boundaries is a large tract of tropical rainforest that stretches over coastal, mountainous and swampy terrain. This district receives the most rainfall with approximately 180 inches annually. Punta Gorda Town is the main municipality that serves as the administrative center and is located about 180 ft. above sea level. Twenty-five percent of the population lives in Punta Gorda Town with the remainder residing in the rural villages and settlements of Toledo.

Although it has the smallest population of all districts, Toledo is culturally diverse, with descendants of the Maya, Garifuna, and other heritage sharing the land.

Structures

Most of the dwellings and public buildings in Punta Gorda Town are of reinforced concrete. A variety of wooden structures topped by metal roofing complete the balance of structures in the municipality.

The dwellings throughout the rest of Toledo vary from traditional thatched, wooden or reinforced concrete construction.

Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Iris on Southern Belize in 2001, there was a shift away from the traditional construction of wooden homes and thatched roofing to more resilient reinforced-concrete structures. Additionally, schools and community centers were built to specifications allowing them to resist the strongest storms. These ‘hurricane-resistant’ schools and community centers now serve the dual purpose of education centers and hurricane shelters.

MISSION STATEMENT
NEMO in cooperation with the respective Emergency Management Committees, and all Public and Private agencies, is established to preserve life and property throughout the country of Belize in the event of an emergency, threatened or real, and to mitigate the impact on the country and its people.

COMPOSITION
The NEMO comprises the Cabinet, with the Prime Minister as the Chairperson, the Cabinet Secretary, as Secretary, the NEMO Secretariat and the 10 Operational Committees (chaired by Permanent Secretaries). The ten Operational Committees are as follows:

Education, Communication and Warning; Medical and Relief Measures; Housing and Shelter; Search, Rescue and Initial Clearance; Collection Control and Distribution of Food and Material; Assessment and Evaluation of Damage; Foreign Assistance; Transport; Environment and Utilities.

The other permanent members are the Belize Red Cross, the Belize Teachers Union, the Chief Meteorological Officer, the Commandant BDF and the Commissioner of Police. Integral to NEMO are its 9 District Emergency Committees (chaired by the senior Minister in each District) representing Belize, Corozal, Orange Walk, Cayo, Stann Creek, Toledo, Belmopan, San Pedro and Caye Caulker.

Toledo District Emergency Committee Members

Chairman-Toledo Representative(Hon.Eden Martinez)

Deputy Chairman-Punta Gorda Mayor, Mr. Charles Galvez

Emergency Operations Center Director-Joseph Supaul

District Emergency Coordinator-Mr. Kenton Parham

District Operations Officer-Ms. Timrose Augustin

Medical Care and Public Health-Mr. Anthony Nicasio

Transport-Mr. Paul Arzu

Ministry of Works-Mr. Eric Moore

Foreign Assistance-

Food and Relief Supplies Management-Ms. Arlene Flores

Environment and Mitigation-Mr. George Emmanuel

Human Resources Management-Mr.Domingo Pau

Education,Information,Communication,Warning-Mr. Oscar Requena

Search and Rescue-Major David Jones

Housing and Shelter-Mr. Eric Moore

Damage and Needs Assessment-Mr. Elliot Martinez

Restoration of Utilities and Access-Mr. Paul Woods